A recent University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus and a senior have earned their first peer-reviewed publication. "Analyzing Political Rhetoric during War: A Case Study of the Conflict in Ukraine," by Jessica Case and Nathanael Hines, is now in Volume VII, Issue I of the London School of Economics Undergraduate Political Review Journal.

"It feels surreal. I didn't expect to have a publication. It definitely goes to show that UNG gives you the opportunity to do research if you want, and there are advisers who will help you," Hines, a May graduate with a degree in political science with a pre-law concentration, said. "It was really cool to be able to do research on something that you see everyone around you talking about. It was challenging to find an aspect of the research that was new or unique. It was definitely a good experience."

Hines, a Cumming, Georgia, resident, and Case, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in international affairs with a European concentration, have been studying facets of the Ukraine-Russia war for multiple years.  In fall 2022, they were part of a UNG team that won an event hosted virtually by William & Mary and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that required competitors to create plans to counter disinformation in the war.

The pair also received a Center for Undergraduate and Creative Activities (CURCA) mini-grant to explore this topic with Dr. Bibek Chand, an associate professor of political science, Model United Nations (UN) adviser and mentor to both Case and Hines. CURCA's support also allowed them to present at the International Studies Association Southern Conference.

Case will have an internship with the State Department in spring 2025, serving in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. She is eager to pursue a career in diplomacy. Having Chand as a professor and taking part in Model UN helped her realize such a career was a possibility.

"I realized how much I truly enjoyed studying the issues of international affairs," Case said. "I realized this is a viable option for me, and I've been on overdrive ever since."

Chand is grateful to see Case and Hines thriving.

“I am immensely proud of the hard work Jessica and Nathanael put into this research project. They have put a lot of time and effort into it, including learning a new tool called NVivo to conduct content analysis," Chand said. "Mentoring them has been a fun experience, and I am glad to witness the publication of their research."